The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-15

Gas or No Gas, That's the Question.
To the Editor of the indianapolis journal.
One of the absorbing questions now before the
Indianapolis public, and the Indianapolis publics
public servants is, that of fuel and light. And
what seems to be needed most on that subject
is light and honesty and less heat in it's
discussion.
Now. what is the plain, naked question,
stripped of all sophistry. triekery and dema-
gogy2 We now have in two kinds of fuel,
coal and wood furnished US by men who make
it business, they in common with all other
citizens have right to do. So far in the history
of the city no one has ever b card of any attempt
on the part OF the city authorities to, in
any manner. interfere with, control the
prices at which either the coal or the wood man
should sci! his fuel. On the contrary, they have
been permitted. was and is their right, to fix
their own prices, which they have always done,
and said to the public, .pay our prices or freeze
and starve and if you don't pay you may freeze
and srarve for u.s." Now a third party proposes
to bring another kind of fuel to city land
light with it,, fuel acknowledged by all to be
better in every respect than either wood
coal At howl is set up that
if we permit them to bring into our city this
better fuel, they must furnish it to US at much
less expense US in it's use than the cost of
wood and coal. Ii they will not do that, they
shall not bring it to us at ALL Whya Will
some of the News's learned mathematicians
swerl VIII anyone claim that the city authori-
ties have or ever did have, any right to fix by
ordinance the price at which coal and wood
should be soldl Certainly not. They have not,
never had and never ought to have. any such
right or authority, any more than they have to
fix the price at which lettuce and young
onions shall SELL All such things should be left
to the seller and the buyer. With three kinds
OF fuel on the market you pays your money
and takes your choice" Then let's be done with
this twaddle about the price of this new fuel,
the demand and supply will regulate that Let
it come. and quickly" and take its chances
with the other fuels. Its vehicles OF convey
ance go under the street instead of cop of it
after the manner of the coal cart Let the
only requirement be that in getting them there
it shall leave the street good it finds it, SO
that If the people still want the coal the cart
shall not be nterfered with in delivering it.
But it is said great and dangerous monopoly
will get control of the right to furnish the new
fuel, and keep out all competition, and thus skin
the dear public in prices How will person
corporation get sole control if an ordinance is
adopted giving all equal chancess
Why, it is answered, che big corporation will
buy all others off. and by that means keep out
competition. Now, it seems to me, if the city
authorities have the right to grant the privilege
of bringing in the fuel, they have
the right to fix the terms upon which
that privilege shall be enjoyed or forfeited
corporation acting under the ordinance shall
forfeit ali rights Hereunder, any attempt to
interfere in any manner, by buying them Off or
otherwise, with any other person company,
for the purpose of preventing such other person
or company accepting and operating under the
ordinance. But, says another. this "big"
poration will put the fuel so low that else
can compete with it. Well, suppose the pub
lie could stand that whether it resulted from
the action of big or little corporation And L
apprehend would care, save the party
beaten in the competition Then let US have